IT should come as no surprise that Deputy Jim McDaid has done an about-turn on his decision to retire from politics at the next election.

THE DUP have been highly critical of the possible Assembly link between the UUP and David Irvine of the PUP because of his association with loyalist paramilitaries.

THE alleged downloading of child pornography from the internet by a judge has caused a sustained political and legal furore in this country.

WHY do people wrongly accuse the Government of inaction?

OVER the centuries, thousands of revolutionary and political proclamations, declarations and manifestoes have been issued all over the world.

THE Government routinely warns us of the pensions time-bomb and many measures are under consideration to promote worker participation in pension schemes.

DOES the Government have any coherent vision for Irish society?

ON December 9, 2005, High Court damages of €120,000 were awarded against the State to the parents of Lewis O’Carroll, a 15-year-old autistic boy, to compensate for the breach of his right to education and care to date.

THE Bishop of Galway, Dr Martin Drennan, was asked on RTÉ radio if he thought Dr Eamon Casey should apologise.

THERE is clearly a need for a Centre for Public Inquiry, but whether it is the current self-appointed body is seriously open to question.

THERE’S no point having a soprano lead the singing of Ireland’s Call (Ireland v Romania, Lansdowne Road, November 26) if you want the predominantly male supporters to sing along.

The Travellers are a perfect example of the political powerlessness of minorities, with the exception of the super-rich, and their plight illustrates the shortcomings of our political system.

ON Pat Kenny’s RTÉ radio show last Wednesday, Justice Minister Michael McDowell proposed a pardon for ‘on the runs’ rather than wasting garda and court resources going through the motions of trying and then releasing them.

SINN Féin MPs refuse to represent their constituents in the chamber to which they have been elected, but Bertie Ahern thinks they should be allowed to represent them in the Dail?

THE political principle that Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion was established over 2,000 years ago, though it’s clearly one that’s not considered relevant by this incompetent, arrogant administration.